How do you feel about stand-alone books?

[Jingizu]

@ Kevin - thanks for the info, didn't know Pet Sematary movie has a sequel. Is it any good?

I read Doctor Sleep last month. Not nearly as scary as The Shining was, and the book does have several flaws; but I enjoyed it and it was a good continuation of Danny's story.

[Mary]

Jingizu wrote: "And of course most Terry Pratchett Discworld books are stand alone for all practical purposes."

Eh, most are part of series within the series. The start of each series can be read on its own, and there are pure stand-alones.

[Dan]

Jingizu wrote: "@ Kevin - thanks for the info, didn't know Pet Sematary movie has a sequel. Is it any good?

I read Doctor Sleep last month. Not nearly as scary as The Shining was, and the book does have several f..."

I really didn't like Doctor Sleep... didn't even finish it. Found it redundant.

[Jingizu]

@ Mary - yes of course Discworld books are mostly series within a series, i.e. Death, the witches, the Watch, etc.

However, most of them can be easily read as stand alone novels. The story starts and ends in the same book.

[Mary]

The big issue I've always had with reading series out of order is not that the later ones don't stand alone -- though it can be a problem -- it's that they invariably spoil their earlier ones when you get around to them.

[Ian]

I don't usually like stand alone novel preferring trilogies or series. But I read the vagrant last year and absolutely loved it.